Anyone have views on Princess Royal University hospital, Farnborough Bromley?

[KFFOREVER]

Hi

I have to book myself in to a midwife. Am 5+5 weeks and Kings won't accept be due to me living out of the area. Any ideas on what the PRU is like? There are some reviews on here but most are quite old now.

[PricklyPickle]

Someone i know gave birth there in February. She said for the actual birth its great, but for post natal issues they were flakey. I've heard a few people say its struggling to cope with the extra workload now queen mary's maternity has shut.

[KFFOREVER]

Thanks for the info prickly. Its quite hard to find a decent hospital in South East London. I have heard St Thomas' is good but I doubt they would accept me especially as Kings didn't not too mention the fact travelling to central London is going to be too much.

I suppose most hospitals are understaffed and over stretched especially with the cuts to the NHS.

[Tugstonia]

My sister had all three of hers at PRU, the second two were ELCS because the first one was horrendous - a combination of bad luck and sloppy management by the hospital. In a nutshell she kept being turned away until it was too late for any pain relief and the baby was posterior (which hospital knew) so was pretty traumatic all round. Baby then had Strep B but hospital were v good about treating him (although my sister did have to shout a lot to get A&E to take it seriously). The ELCS were both fine though and I doubt she would have gone back there if she'd had any real concerns.

[GrandPoohBah]

I was under PRUH for my last two pregnancies (which didn't work out, unfortunately), and the care we got was good but I decided to change hospital after we had poor care from the recurrent miscarriage team there. I get the impression it's a bit hit and miss - I've heard very good things about the maternity care, but my experience of the follow up was not good. We've moved to Croydon University (used to be Mayday) because I trust the consultant I was seeing there and we've had great care so far - even though I've heard terrible things about it!

A friend of mine had hers at the MLU at St George's and said it was very good, but she lived in Putney so her MW team were based over there, and I also know someone who had a more complicated birth at Lewisham (started at the MLU, ended up with an EMCS and a 5 day stay for both of them), and she was very happy with them.

It really depends who you speak to, I think. I would also be a bit concerned about the knock on effect of the South London Hospital Trust being put into administration recently, it hasn't happens before so we don't know what the outcome will be.

Have you considered Guy's?

[Hervana]

What about the midwife led unit at Lewisham?

I had my first at Lewisham in 2007 (not at the midwife unit, it wasn't open then) and my second 2010 at the pru. Both times care was ok (my pregnancies were straightforward) but flaky when cared for my the night staff

Difficult isn't it-it's all subjective!

Anyway good luck with the pregnancy :)

[Hervana]

Btw if there are any complications with baby they will usually be transferred to Lewisham they have a highly respected paediatric unit there

[KFFOREVER]

Aghhhh decision decision! I may go with PRU. A friend gave birth there a month ago and she was very happy there. I guess its a matter of who is on shift at the time. If I don't like PRU I may have to transfer elsewhere.

[Orenishii]

I'll be going to the PRU MLU in October - I was a little concerned about the trust going into administration but I'm in two minds about a homebirth anyway so who knows.

I do know, however, that it's supposed to be infinitely preferable to the one in Woolwich and my MW has said it's very good - very pro active births and minimal intervention. All things being well of course. I tend to think unless you hear a lot of bad information about a place, lots of people will bound to give a mixed view. On the whole, I'm more comforted by the community MW's attitudes in my borough (Bromley) who are very pro home birth, very pro informed choices, very pro home birth, very pro active participation, very pro water births and aren't inclined to intervene. That kind of thing fills me more with comfort.

[lucidlady]

I had DD in Lewisham in October 2011. I had planned to go to the birth centre but complications meant that I was transferred to the labour ward. I could not have asked for better care - they were very good and looked after us both so well. Worth considering.

[Emidwife]

Dear KFForever,

Congratulations on your pregnancy, this is a very exciting time! More than 11,000 women chose to have their baby at South London Healthcare last year and 100% of recent feedback from women last year show that they were treated with respect and dignity, and would recommend the Oasis Midwifery led birthing centre.

For further information please do see our dedicated maternity website:

www.caringforwomen.co.uk/ and our Trust website for contact details www.slh.nhs.uk/?section=services&service=97

You would also be welcome to attend our Pregnancy Evenings which run on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the PRU. These evenings are well attended and would give you the opportunity to meet other pregnanct mums, meet our midwives, find out more about our services and a lot more.

I hope this helps.

Edie
E-Midwife
South London Healthcare NHS Trust

[plantsitter]

100%? Wow.

[KFFOREVER]

Emidwife Im very grateful for your information I feel a bit more reassured. I will definitely be taking up your offer of attending the pregnancy evening with my husband.

[BambieO]

Hiya

I am due in 6 weeks and have had brilliant care at PRU so far! I have been really poorly with sickness and was admitted a few weeks back. The nurses were attentive, efficient and so friendly, nothing was too much trouble.

I was on the labour ward and the lady and her newborn opposite looked like they were receiving exemplary care and support includingbthroughbthe night.

The wards were spotless, the beds fairly comfy, food quite nice actually and even though I was so poorly I found the experience quite relaxing!

I am now looking forward to a positive experience in the oasis suite but if not am happy to go into the hospital as the care looked top notch.

HTH

X

[HelenofSparta]

Two babies at the PRUH (2007&2009) and no complaints. Yes they are busy and yes there are not enough midwives, but similar stories elsewhere....
Got my epidural both times and midwife follow up visits (health visitors sadly lacking).

[LucasMummy2012]

Hi,

I'm due in October and am moving from East Dulwich to Beckenham in the summer. I had my first son at Kings after an aborted home birth. I'm keen to experience a birthing centre this time round as we'll be living a bit further away from a hospital to make me comfortable with a home birth.

I would be really interested to hear about recent experiences with the PRUH Oasis centre.

Also, how easy is it to get in? Do you have to register early? Are you referred via doctors?

Thanks

Ruth

[silverangel]

I was under PRUH split with Kings as I had identical twins. I was admitted several times to PRUH during the pregnancy and the care was fantastic. In the end I delivered in Ashford (31 weekers and PRUH only has SCBU not NICU so dont take under 32 weekers). Babies were transferred back and the SCBU unit was amazing. I only have good things to say about them.

Several friends have delivered at PRUH and general consensus is great delivery esp on the Oasis birthing unit but aftercare on the ward not so attentive.

[TheBeanpole]

I've been trying to decide this too. 6 weeks today, and saw GP this morning, who was most surprised I wanted Lewisham. We're in Bromley, but right on the border with Lewisham. He said I was the first person in 3 years he'd seen who wanted to go to Lewisham which I found a bit . In fact he was trying not to do it because 'I only have the form for PRUH' until the receptionist told him just to cross out the number and write 'Lewisham' on the form.

I may well check out PRUH too, if anyone has tales of amzing-ness? For us it's much more convenient to go to Lewisham. We're car-free so PRUH is a total pain to get to- train and bus, have to allow ages. Lewisham is much easier, on the way to work etc, easier for people to visit if I end up staying in, as most friends live a bit further in than us.

I am a bit confused about how much care you get from the unit at the hospital and how much from the community midwife anyway. He didn't really seem to know...anyone else in Bromley able to shed any light?

[PunkyPod]

Miscarriage in 2011 - early preg unit were fantastic. Cannot fault their care.

DD arrived in 2012 - Oasis Unit is fantastic, really wonderful midwives. Pool was great but baby wouldn't come out so was transferred to the hospital side where she came with ventouse suction. Pretty horrendous birth plus surgery afterwards. But it was nothing to do with the care I was given. It was just the roll of the dice.

Day 3 - We took DD to a&e as we felt she wasn't feeding correctly. Admitted into SCBU for dehydration. Wonderful care for DD and us. Even DP was able to stay with us. Nurses and breast feeding consultant were brilliant and helped us kick start her feeding. We were there 2 nights.

I'd have all my future babies there without hesitation.

Oh, 1 gripe though, I didn't get anything to eat after the birth (22 hrs labour and the surgery and then a whole night). Was hoping for the legendary toast and tea but they said no. So - take post birth food with you!!

[MrsDexter]

Does anyone know where QE Woolwich is any good. I'm
Not sure about Darenth :(

[Grannyapple]

This is prob a bit late but I had my son in the oasis unit..cannot rate it highly enough & I was even lucky enough to have done aromatherapy & a teeny bit of reflexology to help speed up my contractions (he was born within. 5 mins after that. I went into hospital at 9cms..

Now pregnant with dd & due in just over 5 wks...hoping placenta moves to where it should so that I can go back there.

The mw's u saw post birth were great..all v experienced & full of common sense..the mw who delivered my son even came out to see me on day 3 & it was just lovely seeing her.

[Grannyapple]

Ps a work colleague had her 2 at darenth & had no issues at all. Lady from my pregnancy yoga class recently had her baby at darenth in mlu there & said care was good (PRU was full that night & she didn't want to go to woolwich).

[LucyLastik]

Midwife I had for Dc2 fell asleep at the end of my bed during my labour. Dc3, midwife called Naomi was amazing! Swings and roundabouts and agree, it's who you get on the day

[LandsN]

I had my 2 dcs at pruh my son was born in the old hospital and my daughter the new even though it was 9 years ago my last experience was brilliant I couldn't fault them i am 20 weeks pg again and if I was still living in the area I would go again this time I have to go to pembury and really nervous good luck x

[RNJ3007]

The QE almost killed me...sent me home septic.

The PRUH is highly rated, several friends birthed there.

I'm at Lewisham; they have been absolutely amazing. Highly crap pregnancy issues and several inpatient stays, and have felt so very supported.

[xigris]

I had DS1 at Lewisham and DS3 at home but under the care of Lewisham midwives. Both times I had fab care and absolutely no complaints at all. Shame the muppets in power want to close it